A technical delegation from China’s General Administration of Customs visited Türkiye last week as part of the process, attending a meeting at the General Directorate of Food and Control on June 23 where officials briefed them on Türkiye’s export control procedures, plant health systems, quarantine practices, and food safety standards.
During their week-long program, the Chinese delegation also inspected cherry production areas and packing and processing facilities across İzmir, Manisa, Denizli, Isparta, and Afyonkarahisar. The visit follows ministerial-level discussions between the Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Ministry and China’s General Administration of Customs last year, which put cherry exports back on the bilateral agenda.
Türkiye is the world’s leading cherry producer, with annual output of around 700,000 tons, of which 60,000 to 70,000 tons are exported each year to more than 60 countries, including Germany and Russia as the primary markets. China imports between 300,000 and 500,000 tons of cherries annually, according to the source, making it the world’s largest importer of the fruit.
In 2024, Türkiye exported 67,000 tons of cherries and generated $210 million in revenue. In 2025, severe agricultural frosts cut production sharply, reducing exports to just 6,000 tons and revenue to $48 million.
Source: Fresh Plaza
